Elderly diabetics are often reminded that exercise is critical for helping them avoid the worst effects of their condition. However, exercising can cause major fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Following these tips can help your senior loved one stay safe while making lifestyle changes that promote better health.
1. Start with the Doctor’s Approval
Seniors should only begin new workout regimens with their doctors’ approval, and having diabetes makes this step even more important. Encourage your loved one to let the doctor know about what types of exercise he or she plans to do. Ideally, your parent should be as specific as possible so the doctor can provide information about what your loved one needs to do to stay safe.
For optimal health, it’s essential for seniors with diabetes to adopt healthy habits, including regular exercise. Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them attain this goal. Families can trust in-home care experts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living longer and healthier lives.
2. Focus on Being More Active in General
Seniors can benefit from changing the way they view exercise. For instance, they may do better by being active sporadically through the day rather than trying to do one full-length workout. Even small changes, such as walking further through a parking lot or doing chair exercises during a TV commercial, can have far-reaching benefits for the body.
3. Maintain a Consistent Workout Plan
With diabetes, the body responds to things done during the day. For example, blood sugar may go up a certain amount after eating breakfast and decrease sometime before lunch. Working out on a consistent schedule helps your loved one learn his or her body’s general responses to eating and exercise so he or she is better able to handle blood sugar fluctuations.
4. Make Sure to Check Blood Sugar
People with diabetes need to check their blood sugar before and after they exercise. If your loved one’s blood sugar is too high or low, he or she may need to wait to start the workout. Encourage your parent to follow his or her doctor’s instructions to make sure he or she doesn’t experience a diabetic emergency during workouts.
If your loved one lives alone, you may not be able to monitor his or her lifestyle habits closely, but a trained professional caregiver can do this and much more. Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Rocklin seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.
5. Keep a Snack Nearby
It’s fairly common for a senior’s blood sugar levels to drop during exercise. This is especially true when starting a new workout routine or accidentally doing something more strenuous than he or she is used to doing. Having a carb on hand can boost blood sugar levels if they get too low.
6. Try to Work Out with a Trusted Caregiver or Friend
For seniors with fluctuating blood sugar levels, certain forms of exercise can be dangerous. For instance, someone with low blood sugar could pass out while swimming or jogging. Having caregivers accompany them during exercise gives seniors more confidence that someone will be available to respond if things go awry. Exercising with caregivers also adds an element of fun that can make lifestyle changes more enjoyable for seniors with diabetes.
Even seniors who face serious health challenges such as diabetes can live in safety and comfort at home with the help of trained professional caregivers. Rocklin elderly home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers. We will work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs. Call the Home Care Assistance team at (916) 226-3737 today.